Rare et important plat en porcelaine bleu blanc. Chine, Dynastie Ming, époque Yongle (1403-1425). Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011

De forme circulaire, orné au centre d'un branchage feuillagé de pivoines en fleurs ou en boutons, l'aile reprenant ce même motif, le marli agrémenté de volutes, le revers de rinceaux de lotus, la base non émaillée ; cassé et restauré. Diamètre: 37,5 cm. (14¾ in.). Estimate €200,000 - €300,000 ($292,953 - $439,429).

Provenance: Formerly in the Christer Löfgren collection, Sweden

Notes: Dishes of this pattern include one in the Topkapi Saray Museum, illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. II, 1986, no. 598; another in the Archaeological Museum of Iran, Teheran, recorded by A. Pope, Chinese Porcelain from the Ardebil Shrine, 1956, pl. 32, no. 29.68 ; another from the collection of Gustaf VI Adolf, H.M. The King of Sweden, was included in the exhibition of Ming Blue and White, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, 1964, no.23, p.39 and is also illustrated by Bo Gyllensvärd in The World's Great Collections, Oriental Ceramics, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, Sweden, Vol.8, no.214; another dish of this exact same pattern is illustrated by Regina Krahl in Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, Volume II, p. 47, no.660.

Very similar dishes but with different pattern on the rim are recorded such as the one from the Qing Court Collection, Beijing, illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (I), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 55; and the two dishes included in the Exhibition of Imperial Porcelain of the Yongle and Xuande Periods Excavated From the Site of the Ming Imperial Factory at Jingdezhen, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1989, illustrated in the Catalogue, p. 63, figs. 1 and 2.

Christie's. Art d'Asie, 7 June 2011, Paris www.christies.com